title: Small-dose itraconazole pulse therapy in the treatment of onychomycosis.
abstract: The aim was to evaluate efficacy and tolerance of a short-schedule treatment regimen using a small dose of itraconazole in pulse intermittently. The open study evaluated the pulse therapy consisting of monthly 1-week cycles of oral itraconazole 200 mg daily for 2-3 consecutive months in 42 patients with onychomycosis. After active therapy, patients were evaluated for a maximum period of 1 year. Twelve of 42 patients were considered as being clinically cured, 17 were markedly improved, 11 were improved and two were failures. A mycological examination at the final visit was performed on all patients. Thirty-five were negative and seven were positive. This short treatment was well tolerated, with no adverse reactions, and may offer a new option for treatment of onychomycosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liao
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005533:Foot Dermatoses / Q000188:drug therapy; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D017964:Itraconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014009:Onychomycosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D017964:Itraconazole